Data the city was supposedly collecting on rat populations has mysteriously failed to appear on schedule, with city hall declining to explain where the numbers are or what may have caused their delay.
The mayor’s press office confirmed December 11 that it did not have the expected results of an extensive direct monitoring program that’s supposed to have finished initial measurements months ago. It didn’t provide any direct reasons why in its statements, saying only that officials are still gathering information.
“The city is currently collecting sensor data assessing how the various deployed interventions and technologies are affecting rodent populations,” it said in a statement.
The
data would have been the first citywide effort to directly track rat
populations, providing a clearer picture than measuring 311 calls or
relying on complaints made to private exterminators. Begun in July 2024
with an action paper drafted with urban rodentologist Dr. Bobby
Corrigan, sensors installed throughout the city to track how many rats
passed them were supposed to have results ready by September or October
according to officials in July.
The
mayor’s office does still say that results will eventually emerge, just
delayed to some ambiguous date in the months to come.
“The
city is currently in the data collection phase and expects to evaluate
the results in the coming months,” it said. “Once the findings are
available, you can access them on boston.gov.”
The
city declined to answer any follow-up questions, or to make available
for interview the original officials heading the rat control effort,
Special Project Manager Luke Hines and environmental services’ Assistant
Commissioner John Ulrich. It did not clarify whether data from the last
few months exists, or whether some obstacle stopped the collection
entirely.
The city has
also been rolling out experimental trash containers in specific parts
of the city, hoping to test which are most effective at stifling rodent
populations. Broader rollouts were to be decided based on data from the
sensors, but with that data delayed it’s no longer clear what path
forward those programs will take District 8 City Councilor Ed Flynn told
The Boston Guardian that he hopes city officials will take the
issue seriously, noting his efforts to establish a dedicated office to
address pest complaints.
“The
city administration included many of my recommendations as part of
their overall strategy on rodent mitigation, although a major
recommendation was not included, for a dedicated ‘Rat Czar’ to more
effectively coordinate resources to address this major public safety and
health crisis,” he said. “I now hope that my colleagues will
objectively look at worsening conditions this year and support my
efforts to establish an Office of Pest Control in Boston.”
Flynn
also praised the new containers the city is experimenting with, though
he wanted other outreach programs to roll out alongside them.
“While
public trash containers in commercial areas are helpful, we need to
launch a massive public awareness and outreach campaign on proper trash
removal and containerization for individual residents and businesses,”
he said. “It is critical to supply bait boxes, compost containers to
separate the food source, and provide strict enforcement for violations.
Language access is key for all communities to also understand their
role in addressing a crisis that has left rodents carrying leptospirosis
in Boston.”
